Block for horse-collars



LEWIS S, DAVIS, QF NEW P ARIS, OHIO.

:BLOCKv FOR- HORSE-COLLARS.

Specification of Lettersy Patent No. 10,502', dated February 7, 18754.

To all wiz-om t may concern Be it known that I, LEWIS S; DAVIS, of NewParis, Preble county, Ohio, Yhave invented a new and useful ExpandingBlock for Horse-Collars; and I do hereby declare the following to bel afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making part of this specification. f

The object of my invention is such a construction of the block on whicha collar is formed and stretched as shall, firstly, adapt it to everysize of collar, and, secondly shall entirely supersede the use of themallet in stretching the collar. v Y

In the accompanying drawings" Figure l is a side elevation of my blockFig. 2 is a top view, the cap being removed.

(a) is a base board, having afxed at its center, in a vertical position,a bolt (b) which serves as the fixed bearing and support for the rightand left hand screw (c), and also for the cap (d), and prevents theirlongitudinal displacement as hereafter explained. The block is disposedaround the fixed bolt (b), and is divided into four sections (e e f 7)by two vertical joints, of which, one extends from neck to gullet of theblock, (dividing it into two equal and similar halves) and the othercrosses the block at its greatest width, at right angles to the formerone. The two front sections and the two back sections are hingedtogether in pairs, the former at the gullet and the latter at the neckof the block. These hinges, while holding them.together at their frontandrear edges, permit their divergement at the transverse joint, so asto increase the bilge of the block, and thus give a greater width to thecollar which is to be formed upon it. This divergement is made to occursimultaneously with and in a certain fixed proportion to, the extensionlengthwise of the block by the following means. The right and left handscrew (c) has at its midlength a' collar, see dotted lines (c) workingwithin a yoke (b) on the vertical bolt (b).

The nuts (g g) -of this screw occupy niches in their respectivesections, so that on the rotation of the screw, the front and backportions of the block, are caused to recede from or to approach eachother; and at the same time, their divergence or convergence widthwise,is effected by means of the inclined grooves (l1, h i 12') in the base,

and similar ones in the cap (00,' the saidV grooves' being occupied bypins (7c lo Z Z) onrthe top and on the bottom of the block,

one pin occupying the top and another the bottom vof each section. Thegrooves operating on the forward pins, diverge more rapidly than theothersyin order to effect a greater proportional enlargement of ythefront portion of the block; and thus preserve the proper shape, for itwill be evident on inspection, that where the block is very muchprolonged, thefront ends of the back sections are some distance behindtheV Lbilge of the collar and do not therefore require so greatanenlargement as the front sections.

(m m) are two strips ofsheetsteel', which being attached to the frontsections, overlap the front edges ofthe rear ones, and cover the gapleft by the Lseparation of the front and back portions, when the blockis expanded; and thus preserve a continuous surface at this part. Thesestrips I call the sheaths. Y- Y a The application of my block, will beevident to every collar maker,

The bag being soakedk and properly stuffed, is slipped over the block inacontracted condition, and the screw being applied, the stretch is takenout and the desired form and size is given; upon which the-collar,after` being allowed a short time to take its set, is removed and theblock is again contracted for the reception of another collar.

The customary process of blocking a collar, namely, slipping it over thetop ofl a block and beating it down with repeated' v blows of a malletand driver, is not only a comparatively tedious one, but is less exactin its operation, and even in practised hands the collar is'more or lessliable to injury by the action of the mallet. The block also in courseof use always gets battered and splintered by the mallet, and thesmaller class of collars being forced over these splintered surfacesbecome chafed an frayed. By means of my device, a collar may be formedand stretched with more accuracy and shapeliness, less detriment to thecollar, and in yone tenth part of the time ordinarily necessary; and bymoving the'screwV to a set distance each time, a number of collars maybe formed of exactly corresponding size.

I do not claim as novel, the construction bined with a stationary bolt(Z2), placed atV the intersection of the partings, the said bolt servingto unite the base and cap, and also forming a fixed bearing for theright and left hand screw Y (c), which in conjunction with the pins onthe block, and the diverging grooves in the base and cap, effect thepronlaongation and proportional lateral expanequivalent.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand before two subscribingWitnesses.

LEWIS S. DAVIS. Witnesses:

JAMES D. CARLTON, J oHN F. IRELAND.

sion of the block; or devices substantially i

